Viking Assault lets racers get down, dirty

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Archives
Viking Assault competitors in 2012 leap over one of the early obstacles during the Viking Assault obstacle course race at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fairgrounds in Evansville.

2012 Jason Clark

Viking Assault competitors Justin Spencer of Mount Carmel, Ill. (left), and Travis Donberger of Evansville dash through the mud with their tuxedo-themed shirts during their first experience with the Viking Assault obstacle course race in 2012 at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fairgrounds in Evansville.
JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Archives

2012 Jason Clark

The hurdles, the walls, the tunnels and the mud of the Viking Assault course challenge participants' strength, endurance and age.

They also help peel away years, however, requiring normally neat, responsible, hygienic adults to get down, dirty and oozingly in touch with their inner youngsters.

"It's one day when you can get out and play in the mud and be a child again," said Don Waters, the event's coordinator.

The prospect of running, climbing, crawling and wallowing through the five-kilometer course, emerging completely coated in mud, has drawn increasingly bigger fields to the event playing out Saturday at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center, Waters said. A wide range of ages compete, but most are 30 to 40 years old, he said. "They're just looking for something different and challenging to do."

The inaugural event drew 350 participants in 2011. Entries climbed to almost 700 last year, and Waters expects the number to double again, with 1,400 tackling the obstacle run and another 100 competing in a new addition to the day, a mud volleyball tournament.

This year's event also will bring more bands playing later than before, more vendors and a completely redesigned course, Waters said.

Vendors, representing local nonprofits including the Hadi Shrine, Eastern Stare, the Marine Corps. and other organizations will serve food, provide massages and showers for competitors.

Music will run from noon until 11:30, featuring Slideshow Romance from noon to 3 p.m., Akacia from 3 to 6 p.m., Stompbox 40 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Never Been Caught from 9 to 11:30 p.m.

They'll play on a stage decked out like a Viking ship, backed by broad square sail and decorated in front by a Viking ship's figurehead — a dragon — created by Oakland City artist Bob Zasadny.

Even those who don't wish to attempt the hurdles and struggle though mud enjoy live music and the filthy spectacle, Waters said. "There are usually about as many spectators as participants. I"m looking to have about 2,800 people on the grounds, Saturday."

Parking and admission to the park is free for spectators. Participants pay $54.50 to register for the race, with runs in heats every half-hour from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. this year.